Why do you enjoy your job?
I worked as a Portfolio Manager Assistant during the first rotation of my internship. I sat within the UK equities desk and carried out a variety of tasks such as reviewing cash, income forecasting, modelling trades etc.
The role was very enjoyable and engaging. I notably enjoyed working so closely to the portfolio managers and gaining a good idea of how asset managers work. Additionally, the PMA role came with new challenges everyday which I enjoyed because I would investigate the problem and propose a solution. The role also allowed me to liaise with many different teams (e.g. compliance, performance, operations), widening my network.
What is the most challenging thing about your job?
The portfolio manager assistant is a middle man in between the portfolio managers and the rest of the company. Therefore, if there are any concerns it will be raised with the portfolio manager assistant. This means that we face variety of queries from all around the organisation. Therefore, we face problems which we may not have seen before. This involves a period of looking throughout documents and speaking to team members to get to the root of the problem and try to find a solution as soon as possible.
How did you get into your job?
I decided to attend university and studied Economics. During my time at university I interned at the Civil Service but did not think it was right for me. I was emailed by SEO London regarding the Investment20/20 scheme at Columbia Threadneedle Investments and after researching the programme and the company I was keen to apply. I was attracted to the program because it involved rotations allowing me to broaden my experience in different areas before deciding where I want work full time. The financial industry is very dynamic and Asset Managers are in the centre of it.
What are your future aspirations?
My future aspiration is to study the Chartered Financial Analyst exams and find a full-time job within investments.
How would you sum up your Investment20/20 experience?
You get thrown into the deep end where you are involved in a variety of tasks with incredible people. The traineeship is an invaluable experience to discover where in the company you would fit in the most.
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